History of CALM (formal)

Established by the ALA Executive Board in 1970 as a special committee and extended by the Board in 1972 for another two years. Upon recommendation of the Committee on Organization, the ALA Council, at its July, 1974, meeting, established the committee as a Standing Joint Committee. The membership consisted of ten members, five from each association. Co-chairs appointed by each association biennially for two-year terms. Prior to 1985, the chair alternated biennially between ALA and SAA. Upon recommendation of the Committee on Organization, the ALA Council, at its January 2003, meeting renamed the committee as the American Library Association/Society of American Archivists/American Association of Museums Joint Committee (ALA/SAA/AAM Joint Committee). The membership consists of fifteen members, five from each association. Co-chairs appointed by each association biennially for two-year terms.

Charge

The functions established for the committee in 1974 included: The common purpose of archivists and librarians is to acquire, preserve, and deliver to users as needed the written and graphic record of man's intellect and experience. To these ends, it is the function of the committee to: (1) increase communications and the exchange of information between the two professions; (2) identify and explore areas of shared concern by considering mutual needs, techniques, problems, and objectives; (3) recommend joint activities and encourage the establishment of common standards; (4) plan and implement program meetings at both ALA and SAA annual conferences in the interest of strengthening service to mutual clientele and assisting members of both professions in understanding fundamental concerns; (5) refer matters of common concern to appropriate committees of SAA or ALA; (6) undertake such additional activities as are assigned to the committee by either of its parent bodies.

The functions were revised in January, 1985, with SAA concurrence to read: The common purpose of archivists and librarians is to acquire, preserve, and deliver to users as needed the written and graphic record of man's intellect and experience. In order to enable such professionals to achieve these purposes, it is desirable to strengthen the relationship between the Society of American Archivists and the American Library Association and to coordinate the goals and activities of the two organizations. To these ends, it is the function of this committee: (1) to foster and develop ways and means of effecting closer cooperation between the organizations; (2) to encourage the establishment of common standards; (3) to undertake such activities as are assigned to the committee by either of its parent bodies; (4) to initiate programs of relevant and timely nature at the annual meetings of either or both parent bodies either through direct ALA/SAA Joint Committee sponsorship or by forwarding particular program plans to the appropriate unit of either parent body for action; (5) to refer matters of concern to appropriate units of SAA or ALA.

The functions were revised in January 2003, with SAA and AAM concurrence to read: "(1) To foster and develop ways and means of effecting closer cooperation among the organizations; (2) encourage the establishment of common standards; (3) undertake such activities as are assigned to the committee by either of its parent bodies; (4) initiate programs of a relevant and timely nature at the annual meetings of one or more parent bodies either through direct Combined Committee sponsorship or by forwarding particular program plans to the appropriate unit of one or more parent bodies for action; and (5) refer matters of common concern to appropriate committees of ALA, SAA or AAM." The Committee is referred to as the Committee on Archives, Libraries and Museums (CALM) in all three associations.